YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK:

- Major destination for millions of visitors each year;

- Situated in the north-west of U.S.A., in the Rocky Mountains;
- Americas first National Park (established in 1872) Worlds first National Park (was the
first national park in the world);
- located primarily in the U.S. state of Wyoming, though it also extends into Montana and
Idaho
- spans an area of 8,980 km
2

- named after the color of the great canyon (the rocks are yellow because of some
mixture of iron and bacteria and minerals)
- Yellowstone has numerous recreational opportunities, including hiking, camping,
boating, fishing and sightseeing, as well as enjoying exhibits and films.
- Paved roads provide close access to the major geothermal areas as well as some of the
lakes and waterfalls. During the winter, visitors often access the park by way of guided
tours that use either snow coaches or snowmobile.
- The Yellowstone General Store, clinic, campground, post office, 24-hour gasoline
pumps, and the Albright Visitor Center at Mammoth Hot Springs are open all year.
- The entrance fee for one car is 25 bucks or for 50 you can go in at any time for a whole
year
- is known for its :

WILDLIFE:
o hundreds of species of mammals, birds, fish and reptiles have been
documented, including several that are either endangered or threatened; Grizzly
Bears, wolves, and free-ranging herds of bison and elk live in the park (Lamar
and Hayden Valleys)
o The vast forests and grasslands also include unique species of plants.

GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES:
o Many geothermal features, (Half of the world's geothermal features are in
Yellowstone, fueled by this ongoing volcanism), especially Old Faithful Geyser
o It has many types of ecosystems, but the subalpine forest is dominant
o lakes, canyons, rivers and mountain ranges
o A collection of the world's most extraordinary geysers and hot springs, and the
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
o Mammoth Hot Springs


- Lava flows and rocks from volcanic eruptions cover most of the land area of Yellowstone

- Yellowstone Lake is one of the largest high-altitude lakes in North America and is
centered over the Yellowstone Caldera, the largest super volcano on the continent. The
caldera is considered an active volcano; it has erupted with tremendous force several
times in the last two million years.

- Morning Glory Pool - one of the most popular and beautiful pools in Yellowstone
National Park, earned its name in the 1880s due to its deep blue coloration and likeness
to the Morning Glory flower.

- Old Faithful Geyser - one of the most popular features in the park which erupts
approximately every 91 minutes.

- Mammoth Hot Springs: A system of small fissures carries water upward to create
approximately 50 hot springs in the Mammoth Hot Springs area.
- Several key ingredients combine to make the Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces: heat,
water, limestone, and a rock fracture system through which hot water can reach the
earth's surface. Hot water is the creative force of the terraces (and carbon dioxide).
- Bacteria and algae create the streaks of color on Orange Spring Mound. It is noticeably
different from many of the other terrace formations nearby. Its large mounded shape is
the result of very slow water flow and mineral deposition;

- Grand Prismatic Spring: 75 by 91 m in size; steam rising from hot and sterile deep azure
blue water in the center surrounded by huge mats of brilliant orange algae and bacteria;
the color is changing from summer to winter (black mats) because of the chlorophyll
which disappear. Wooden walkways allow visitors to closely approach the Grand
Prismatic Spring.

- Grand Canyon: The canyon is up to 275 m deep and 0.8 km in width; Rocks in the
canyon contain a variety of different iron compounds. Exposure to the elements caused
the rocks to change colors. The rocks are, in effect, oxidizing; the canyon is rusting. The
colors indicate the presence or absence of water in the individual iron compounds. Most
of the yellows in the canyon are the result of iron present in the rock rather than sulfur.

DANGERS:
- Forest fires occur in the park each year; in the large forest fires of 1988, nearly one third
of the park burned
- Yellowstone's weather is unpredictable. A sunny warm day may become fiercely
stormy with wind, rain, sleet, and sometimes snow.
- Lightning storms are common; get off water or beaches and stay away from ridges,
exposed places, and isolated trees.
- Animal attacks